Yawn
Tuesday, Sep 22, 2009 - Posted by Rich Miller * My goodness, but Illinois political news is boring this morning. The only campaign press release I received so far was from Springfield attorney Don Tracy, who is announcing for lieutenant governor today. He was at the State Fair, so I don’t think the Post-Dispatch has to readjust its ongoing lite guv candidate count (15 as of yesterday) I was so bored, I actually downloaded the press release (docx, so I had to wait while it was converted by my computer) just to see if he was still a Republican. Yep. Tracy ran for the state Senate as a Democrat back in 2002. The contact e-mail was from TracyforIllinois.com, but that website isn’t working yet. * At least I’m not as bored as the SJ-R, which ran a story today about how Dan Hynes wants a graduated income tax. No new ground broken at all, except the paper failed to explain that the proposed hike is only on income above $200,000, not on people who earn more than $200,000. * The Tribune’s “Daywatch” roundup was just e-mailed, and one of the headlines was “Kirk out of business.” I got all tingly. Oops. False alarm. That’s a suburban developer, not a suburban politician. * Meanwhile, Mark Brown has a column about dogs and cats, Sneed’s lede is about a crazy series of lawsuits by a wacky convicted felon, today’s big corruption story is about a clouty company that didn’t get a permit to use some water, Chicago Public Radio informs us that many candidates will not actually run, Illinois Review is railing against SEIU’s “sordid” campaign contributions to Democrats by renaming the group ACORN/SEIU, IlliniPundit is complaining about soybean aphids, and Progress Illinois is complaining again about the Sun-Times’ flawed pension series, a series which the governor praised in today’s Sun-Times. * The Illinois Senate’s Redistricting Committee is holding a hearing in Peoria today, but that issue will not be decided by a mere committee, so there will likely be no real news there. It’s cloudy and rainy outside, so I think I may take a nap. Rod Blagojevich’s attorneys are due in court today, so maybe we’ll eventually get some news. We can always count on that clown for something.
|
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Sep 22, 09 @ 10:24 am:
A boring day in Illinois government and politics is not necessarily a bad thing. If only we could count on them to last.
- Easy - Tuesday, Sep 22, 09 @ 10:35 am:
Yeah, boring. I know what would be fun. Let’s make fun of the way people look and then let’s discuss how racist the Cubs are because their $21 million outfielder sucks and the organization wants to fire him.
- The Doc - Tuesday, Sep 22, 09 @ 10:36 am:
Bad for business, good for our collective mental health, if only temporary.
I find Daley’s most recent babble about the Olympics a bit curious - publicly discounting Madrid and Tokyo, and displaying an increased amount of confidence in our bid.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Sep 22, 09 @ 10:38 am:
===Let’s make fun of the way people look ===
Take it easy, Easy. That was a photo. And you laughed, too.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Sep 22, 09 @ 10:39 am:
You Cub fans are just so bitter. Fear not, there’s another post available for venting.
- Easy - Tuesday, Sep 22, 09 @ 10:40 am:
only on the inside.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Sep 22, 09 @ 10:42 am:
Well, close to a hundred commenters laughed on the outside yesterday. It would’ve reached a hunnert, but I shut it down because it was all turning so sour.
- Peter - Tuesday, Sep 22, 09 @ 10:51 am:
Tracy explained on our air that (paraphrased) he wanted his campaign website to be “professional” like the campaign and that’s why he doesn’t have one yet (save his girls’ Facebook.)
- Obamas' Puppy - Tuesday, Sep 22, 09 @ 10:53 am:
Sun Times article ignores the facts to sell papers. So Mr. Fusco public employees should have only DC plans even if they do not have Social Security? How about Social Security for all public employees, and increase your payroll costs by at least 3% to 4%. Half baked research, half baked statements I love the press.
- Don't Worry, Be Happy - Tuesday, Sep 22, 09 @ 11:13 am:
CAPITOL FAX BLOG HOT BREAKING NEWS EXCLUSIVE: I’d like to announce that I shall not seek, and I will not accept, the nomination of my party for Lieutenant Governor.
- IlliniPundit - Tuesday, Sep 22, 09 @ 11:20 am:
It’s been a pretty slow few weeks, honestly.
- Rhino - Tuesday, Sep 22, 09 @ 11:45 am:
For those who need some reading excitement (and major truth telling), check out Abdon Pallasch’s Sun-Times article on how Cook County judges are slated by the regular Democratic Party. http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/1778703,CST-NWS-judges20web.article
You’ll chuckle (or cry) all day.
- chuddery - Tuesday, Sep 22, 09 @ 11:49 am:
Is there a site for the upcoming redistricting?
I found an old Illinois one (http://clients.ecampaigning.com/ilr/main.htm), but most of the links are dead.
- downstater - Tuesday, Sep 22, 09 @ 12:14 pm:
Brad Cole from Carbondale will be in this till the very end. Downstaters will unite for other downstaters for the Lt. Gov race.
- Amalia - Tuesday, Sep 22, 09 @ 12:15 pm:
got an email from the Hynes campaign. in the mail line it
said “Choice” so i figured, well he’s going after the women’s vote early. nope, yada yada re support, election etc, unless of course
there was something further down in the email cause I snoozed off just reading it.
- Retired State Employee - Tuesday, Sep 22, 09 @ 12:25 pm:
But Rod B. is going to be on the Daily Show tonight.
- Ghost - Tuesday, Sep 22, 09 @ 12:45 pm:
Rich you need a you tube video of a detailed description of a slow news day,perhaps bringing in experts o discuss. Just make sure it has no content and is as long as possible.
Then you can relaunch as a 24hr news network.
- Brennan - Tuesday, Sep 22, 09 @ 1:21 pm:
CREW(Citizens[ed. MmHmm] for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington) released its annual “Most Corrupt Members of Congress” report last week. Two Illinois names make the list: Senator Roland “Lightning Speed Trail Blazer” Burris and Congressman Jesse “I did nothing wrong” Jackson Jr.
http://is.gd/3zpG6
My thoughts. Only two made the list? I guess we love our corruption so much we’re unwilling to export it to Washington.
- bbc - Tuesday, Sep 22, 09 @ 1:22 pm:
Two thoughts to stir political discussion on a slow day:
1) Isn’t Sandi Jackson’s supposed candidacy for Lt. Gov a potential nightmare for the Dems? In such a big primary field she’s probably the favorite. She could be Quinn or Hynes’ running mate next summer when the Blago trial is dominating the headlines with talk of her husband’s wheeling and dealing over the senate seat. It will help remind voters the Dems are the party of Blago.
2) Although Abdon Pallasch’s above mentioned story is fun to read, it should be noted that the Dem committeemen only slate judicial candidates who have been found “recommended” by the bar associations. More often than not these days, those slated candidates lose to less qualified goofs who win because of ballot position, race, gender, ethnicity, etc. As hard as it is to believe, the county judicial system would actually be better off if all the slated candidates won.
- Brennan - Tuesday, Sep 22, 09 @ 1:24 pm:
=As hard as it is to believe, the county judicial system would actually be better off if all the slated candidates won.=
I want this on a poster.
- Rhino - Tuesday, Sep 22, 09 @ 1:47 pm:
>>2) Although Abdon Pallasch’s above mentioned story is fun to read, it should be noted that the Dem committeemen only slate judicial candidates who have been found “recommended” by the bar associations. More often than not these days, those slated candidates lose to less qualified goofs who win because of ballot position, race, gender, ethnicity, etc. As hard as it is to believe, the county judicial system would actually be better off if all the slated candidates won. >> BBC’s response is unfortunately correct but that is certainly damning with faint praise a system of judicial selection and bar association scrutiny which is deeply flawed. One would think that these revelations would support sentiment for merit selection of judges but, after all, this is Illinois.
- downstate conservative - Tuesday, Sep 22, 09 @ 2:02 pm:
Brad Cole is a great guy, but has no money and won’t get much traction. Plummer is the downstate candidate with all of the money, and has the support of people like Senator Frank Watson. I don’t see Cole staying in this race much longer. Too bad he or Andrzejewski doesn’t pull out of their races and give Topinka some primary competition.
- Secret Square - Tuesday, Sep 22, 09 @ 2:11 pm:
“Rod Blagojevich’s attorneys are due in court today, so maybe we’ll eventually get some news. We can always count on that clown for something.”
Well, maybe not, all they did was drop the charges against Chris Kelly and Blago wasn’t even there. Unless you count Sam Adam’s promise that Kelly will “speak from the grave” at Blago’s trial as “news.”
- Just wondering - Tuesday, Sep 22, 09 @ 2:49 pm:
Not boring in my corner of the world so I’m glad I don’t need to be glued to the blog. I admit to a slight addiction because I check it every time I need a little break. Let’s keep it quiet for a couple days so I can catch up.
- Ghost - Tuesday, Sep 22, 09 @ 4:16 pm:
Perhaps we should just discuss ACORN, and how it brought down the byzatine empire after causing the fall of Rome…all from the use of public funds directed at stopping cat juggling.
- patrick mcdonough - Tuesday, Sep 22, 09 @ 5:38 pm:
rich, the story by fran spielman is huge. the tadin family and the department of water management have many ties. the big part of the story will be out soon also by abc 7 is what i heard. If you are on the inside, this is really big.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Sep 22, 09 @ 6:26 pm:
That Brady campaign event in Chicago on bringing back cumulative voting and trying to clip Madigan’s power had people hanging from the rafters.
It’s just what people in troubled times are looking for in a leader — Inside Baseball, Springfield.
We’re going to hear more from this kid, and I don’t mean a postcard.
- Reddbyrd - Tuesday, Sep 22, 09 @ 7:12 pm:
Capt Fax
Hope you woke up and enjoyed the beautiful afternoon in SPI….shot a decent score overall a pretty nice day
- downstater - Wednesday, Sep 23, 09 @ 1:40 am:
Mr Cole has the experience and is a fighter. Some of the other Lt. Gov candidates have burned to many bridges.